192 clutches and power-stop control – Vortex-flow drive and clutch – With brake
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-23
2004-09-21
Bonck, Rodney H. (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Vortex-flow drive and clutch
With brake
C060S339000, C060S345000, C060S346000, C192S11000B
Reexamination Certificate
active
06793052
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement in a torque converter comprising: a pump impeller connected to an input shaft; a turbine impeller which is mounted to oppose the pump impeller and to which a turbine shaft is connected; and a side cover integrally connected to the pump impeller to cover the turbine impeller; a radial bearing for concentrically retaining a hub of the side cover and the turbine shaft as well as a one-way clutch being disposed adjacent each other between the hub of the side cover and the turbine shaft extending through the hub, the one-way clutch being adapted to connect the turbine shaft and the side cover to each other when a reverse load is applied to the turbine shaft; a hub of an output gear being coupled to an outer end of the turbine shaft; a sealing means being mounted between the hubs of the output gear and the side cover.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a torque converter is already known, as is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-241530.
In such torque converter, when a reverse load is transmitted from the output gear to the turbine shaft during deceleration of a vehicle, the one-way clutch connects the turbine shaft and the side cover directly to each other. Therefore, the reverse load is transmitted from the turbine shaft directly to the side cover, and further from the pump impeller to a crankshaft, whereby a good engine brake effect can be obtained without occurrence of a slipping between the turbine impeller and the pump impeller. Moreover, the radial bearing adjoining the one-way clutch is interposed between the turbine shaft and the hub of the side cover to ensure the concentricity between them. Therefore, loads received by clutch elements such as sprags of the one-way clutch between the turbine shaft and the side cover can be equalized, thereby improving durability of the clutch. In addition, a working oil within the torque converter can be prevented by the sealing means from being leaked from an inner peripheral surface of the hub of the side cover.
In the conventionally known torque converter, the one-way clutch and the radial bearing are disposed on opposite sides of an annular projection formed at an intermediate portion of the inner peripheral surface of the hub of the side cover, and an outer race of the radial bearing is clamped axially by the annular projection and a retaining ring locked to the inner peripheral surface of the hub of the side cover in order to retain the bearing. Therefore, the formation of the inner peripheral surface of the hub of the side cover is obliged to be conducted from axially opposite ends of the hub due to the presence of the annular projection at the intermediate portion of the inner peripheral surface, and hence, the number of steps is larger, and it is difficult to reduce the cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a torque converter of the above-described type, wherein the entire inner peripheral surface of the hub of the side cover can be formed from the side of an inner end, whereby the retaining of the radial bearing can be conducted simply, while providing a reduction in the number of steps, and in turn a reduction in cost.
To achieve the above object, according to a first feature of the present invention, there is provided a torque converter comprising: a pump impeller connected to an input shaft; a turbine impeller which is mounted to oppose the pump impeller and to which a turbine shaft is connected; and a side cover integrally connected to the pump impeller to cover the turbine impeller; a radial bearing for concentrically retaining a hub of the side cover and the turbine shaft as well as a one-way clutch being disposed adjacent each other between the hub of the side cover and the turbine shaft extending through the hub, the one-way clutch being adapted to connect the turbine shaft and the side cover to each other when a reverse load is applied to the turbine shaft; a hub of an output gear being coupled to an outer end of the turbine shaft; a sealing means being mounted between the hubs of the output gear and the side cover, wherein an inner peripheral surface of the hub of the side cover is formed into a stepped configuration by a larger-diameter inner peripheral surface portion located on the side of its base end and a smaller-diameter inner peripheral surface portion located on the side of its tip end and connected to the larger-diameter inner peripheral surface portion through an annular step; an outer race of the radial bearing fitted to the larger-diameter inner peripheral surface portion being clamped axially by the annular step and a retaining ring locked to the larger-diameter inner peripheral surface portion; and the hub of the output gear is relatively rotatably fitted to the smaller-diameter inner peripheral surface portion with the sealing means mounted between their fitted surfaces.
With the first feature, the inner peripheral surface of the hub of the side cover is formed into the stepped configuration by the larger-diameter inner peripheral surface portion which is located on the side of its base end and on which the radial bearing and the one-way clutch are mounted, and the smaller-diameter inner peripheral surface portion located on the side of its tip end. Therefore, the entire stepped inner peripheral surface can be formed at a stroke, leading to a decrease in steps and a reduction in cost.
Moreover, the annular step between the larger-diameter inner peripheral surface portion and the smaller-diameter inner peripheral surface portion is utilized for axially retaining the outer race of the radial bearing and hence, the retaining structure is simple, and a further reduction in cost can be provided.
Furthermore, the first sealing means is mounted between the smaller-diameter inner peripheral surface portion and the hub of the output gear relatively rotatably fitted to the smaller-diameter inner peripheral surface portion, and hence, the diameter of the first sealing means can be reduced, and a load on the first sealing means can be alleviated, leading to an enhancement in durability thereof.
According to a second feature of the present invention, in addition to the first feature, the sealing means is comprised of an annular sealing groove defined in an outer peripheral surface of the hub of the output gear, and a seal ring mounted in the sealing groove to come into resilient close contact with the smaller-diameter inner peripheral surface portion, so that the force of close contact of the seal ring with the smaller-diameter inner peripheral surface portion is increased by a centrifugal force applied to the seal ring.
With the second feature, the force of close contact of the seal ring with the smaller-diameter inner peripheral surface portion is increased in accordance with an increase in rotational speeds of the hub of the side cover and the output gear, and it is possible to effectively prevent the leakage of an internal pressure rising during rotation of the torque converter at a high speed.
According to a third feature of the present invention, in addition to the second feature, the seal ring is comprised of a resilient ring member which has a single abutment and which is provided with such a radial tension that it has a diameter larger than that of the smaller-diameter inner peripheral surface portion in its free state, an end face of the seal ring facing the abutment being inclined with respect to an axis or a radius line of the ring.
With the third feature, the mounting of the hub of the output gear in the sealing groove can be conducted easily by widening the abutment and moreover, the force of close contact of the seal ring with the smaller-diameter inner peripheral surface portion can be increased reliably in accordance with increases in rotational speeds of the hub of the side cover and the output gear.
In addition, since the end face of the seal ring facing the abutment is inclined with respect to the axis or radiu
Imasaka Masafumi
Makita Seiji
Arent & Fox PLLC
Bonck Rodney H.
Yutaka Giken Co. Ltd.
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